Some nights in football are golden. "In European terms that has to be my greatest moment at Old Trafford," said Sir Alex Ferguson, casting his mind back over the way Manchester United had blown a gaping hole in Italy's reputation of having the world's most accomplished defences. "The quality of our game was so high that once we scored the second and third goals I was in the dugout thinking 'this could be something really big here'. But even so, I wasn't expecting that."

Ferguson used the word "uncanny" and he shook his head with disbelief as he pored over the most exhilarating display of fast, penetrative, adventurous football this stadium has witnessed since the Champions League's inception. "Hopefully it's not a one-off but the quality of goals was so high it is difficult to think we could ever get that again," he said. "It was a fantastic performance; the speed of our play, the penetration, the confidence we showed, the clinical nature of our finishing. It was a special night and we can't wait for the semi-finals now because it will give the club a real lift.

"We've had a couple of bad results in the last weeks and it isn't easy for a club like ours to lose two successive matches. But all the great teams have to get over these mishaps. Every team has disappointments but it's how you recover that's important. We have shown a new level of maturity and performance here.

"We played Milan a couple of years ago and back then Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney were young lads and not ready for those nights. They found it difficult against experienced opponents but tonight they looked like men."

On a night when Ferguson felt Ronaldo and Rooney came of age, and Michael Carrick bewitched Old Trafford with his range of passing, he also made sure to identify Alan Smith for special acclaim.

"He deserves it more than anyone," he said the United manager of a player making only his fourth start of the season, but who is finally showing signs that he has fully recovered from the broken leg and dislocated ankle he suffered against Liverpool 14 months ago. "His attitude is absolutely wonderful but the greatest qualities he has shown are his patience and his perseverance," said Ferguson. "You have Ryan Giggs who sees these European nights as such a challenge and Michael Carrick, who I believe is getting better and better and is now playing with an excellent authority. But the one individual we have to pay attention to is Smith because his enthusiasm spread through the team."

There was praise, too, for unsung heroes such as Darren Fletcher and John O'Shea on a night when it was easy sometimes to forget that United were missing the considerable talents of, among others, Paul Scholes, Louis Saha and Nemanja Vidic.

"What we have done really well is that all the players who have come into the team have responded to the challenge," said Ferguson. "I'm particularly pleased because all these players are responding. I said a while ago that the players who could bring us success would be the ones who are often sitting on the bench and I hope that is the case. We have to win something to be seen as a great team and hopefully we will do that now. The way they are playing and enjoying their football, they deserve it."

With United and Chelsea already through, Liverpool all but assured of joining them tonight, Ferguson went on to say the presence of three English teams in the semi-finals signified that the Premiership could now be considered as the strongest league in Europe.

"A few years ago I would have said that Spanish football was the best but the evidence this season is that Barcelona and Real Madrid are nowhere near as strong as they have been in previous years," he said.

"The quality of the English game has improved and everyone can see that now because it is very probable there will be three of us in the semis and, hopefully, an all-English final. I think English football has to be recognised as the best in Europe now."

United's magnificent seven

1-0 Carrick 11min The midfielder collects Ronaldo's infield pass and takes one touch before beautifully curling the ball around Doni 2-0 Smith 17min His first goal since November 2006, a composed volley from the edge of the area after Chivu misjudges Giggs' through-ball 3-0 Rooney 19min Giggs picks up Smith's pass, runs unchallenged down the right and crosses low for Rooney to steer the ball home 4-0 Ronaldo 40min Roma are unable to deal with the winger's speed down the right and he cuts inside to beat Doni at the near post 5-0 Ronaldo 49min Giggs is again the provider, powering past Panucci to send in a cross which avoids Smith but is slotted home by Ronaldo 6-0 Carrick 49min Ronaldo's cross from the right is overhit but Heinze picks the ball up and finds Carrick, who curls the ball around Doni 7-1 Evra 81min The substitute collects a pass from Solskjaer, advances to the edge of the area and squeezes his shot between two defenders